So...does anyone know the origins of this day? We don't even know the real meaning of National Button Day. I suppose this means we have the freedom to celebrate this day anyway we want. Well, as Montessorians…this opens up all sorts of wonderful possibilities!
Many of us remember, as children, going through Grandma’s jar of buttons which she had collected over the years. All sorts of shapes, textures, sizes, colors, designs…a mega sensorial experience. It was like a treasure chest, to be enjoyed over and over again.
Suggestion for your home or classroom: start a button collection, put the buttons in a see-through glass jar, and place the jar on a shelf...allowing freedom to explore all the possibilities. You will be amazed how many hours of hands-on enjoyment this will provide for your children! If you have a classroom, ask parents to also start collecting to contribute to the class button jar.
Button Day is a great day to start a “button theme” for the week. There are so many button activities to introduce and add to your classroom! Here are some Button Theme ideas…
Practical Life:
The Montessori Button Frames
Sewing a button (on a cloth nametag…)
Button pouring (glass to glass)
Button transferring (spooning into bowl)
Sweeping buttons
Sand sifting with buttons
Stringing buttons
Sensorial:
Match or sort and categorize by:
Color (red-red, green-green)
Color type (primary, secondary…)
Color sequencing (shades of blue…)
Size (large, small, medium…)
Shape (round, square, triangle…)
Designs (flower, animal…
Material (metal, cloth, plastic…)
Opposites (plain, fancy…)
Stacking buttons (large to small…)
Sound shakers with buttons inside (loud, soft…)
Math:
Adding buttons
Guess the number of buttons in a jar
Count the number of buttons in a jar
Sort by number (piles of 10…)
Patterning buttons (2 red, 3 yellow, 2 red, 3 yellow…)
Match quantity of buttons to numeral cards
Sort by number of holes in each button (two, four…)
Language:
B is for button (find other things that start with B…)
Patterning cards with buttons (indirect preparation for reading/writing)
Make a button book
Glue buttons on the “b” letter shape
Learn the sign language for “button”
History:
Button timeline
Buttons old and new
Geography:
Buttons around the world
How to say “button” in different languages
Music:
Make maracas with buttons inside
Make an instrument and decorate with buttons
Create button songs (10 little buttons to tune of 10 little Indians…)
Circle Games:
Button, Button, Who Has the Button?
Button Toss
Art:
Gluing buttons (collage, picture…)
Making a button bracelet with string
The possibilities are endless!
Enjoy, and Have a Happy Button Day!
Friday, November 13, 2009
National Button Day is always on November 16th
Monday, November 9, 2009
Subject: Prevention for H1N1 Virus (swine flu)
Lisa Craff, UMA graduate, Florissant, MO sends us this good advice, passed on to her by a nurse.
Subject: Prevention for H1N1 Virus (swine flu)
Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).
The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face.
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water. *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at a Neti Pot (way to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
Pass this on.... You never know who might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Math: Original Project
A fun activity for classroom or home!
May Brymn from Silver Spring Maryland shares her Math original project for UMA. She uses all natural materials...wood tray and glass candle holders. Very inviting!
Friday, October 16, 2009
In support of World Food Day!
In support of World Food Day, here are couple of links. The first, is take a quiz that increases your knowledge of food issues.
Go to: http://www.freerice.com/
The second, is an article about foods for children with ADHD: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/adhd/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100163625
Friday, October 9, 2009
Parental Guidance on Web Video for Children
NY Times
By WARREN BUCKLEITNER
Published: October 8, 2009 The Internet offers a vast amount of video, not all of it suitable for young eyes. But parents can let their children explore while still curating what they see.
Check it out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/technology/personaltech/08basics.html
From UMA
